Over 12230 km of National Highways will be upgraded

Mangalore, Feb 4 (UNI)The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the center has approved for the implementation of the up gradation 12230 KM of national highway connecting North-South and East-West corridors under National Highway Development Project (NHDP), Union minister of state for Surface Transport Mr K H Muniyappa informed here today.

Speaking to newsmen after inspecting the progress of the repair works of the Shiradi Ghat and Sakleshpur on the National Highway number 48 here today Mr Muniyappa informed that the tender for the construction of around 7300 km stretch of road has been awarded already and it was expected to be completed by 2009.

Mr Muniyappa also informed that the work of 4 and 6 lane Golden quadrilateral of National Highways connecting four major cities of the country was almost complete.

He said that the up gradation work of 12109 km length of National Highways under NDHP Phase III on BOP model was revised to 12230 km stretch. The ministry also has proposal to upgrade National highways which has single lane to two lane with paved shoulders for over 20000 km length, which do not qualify for four laning under Phase IV stipulations.

Another major praposal which was under the consideration of the ministry was that of six laning of 6500 km of National Highways under phase V at an estimated cost of Rs 41000 crores. The ministry also has another ambitious proposal to take up the construction of 1000 km stretch of express highways under phase VI at a cost of Rs 16690.

On the Sakleshpur-Shiradi Ghat repair works the minister assured that the work would be completed by April this year. The road stretch between Shiradi Ghat and Sakleshpur was damaged very badly due to unprecedented landslide and heavy rains witnessed during last monsoon.

The repair work was delayed due to the several reasons including that of change in original plan and other complications faced during the progress of the work. "Now all the hurdles in the repair of the bad stretches of highway has been removed and it would be thrown open for traffic by April this year" Mr Muniyappa assured.

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